Page 53 - Diplomatists Nov

INDIA AND THE W ORLD

century that resulted from liberalization and reform, with the United States against China’s increasing

the United States has now become a major player influence in Asia. The question of whether India is

within the Indian defense sector. The first of a litany committed to abandoning its policy of neutrality in
of U.S.-Indian weapons deals came in January of the rising competition between the United States
2008 during the Bush Administration, whereby the and China and fully committing to one side – which
United States sold six Lockheed Martin C-130J in this case is the United States – is something that
Super Hercules military transport planes to India. has yet to be determined.
This deal was valued at approximately 1 billion Most likely, India will retain its policy
US dollars. of neutrality in regards to the U.S.-Chinese
Starting from 2009 and during Barack Obama’s competition without fully committing to either
tenure as U.S. president, American weapons sales side. America’s approach towards deeper defense
to India increased by approximately 43 percent, cooperation and deal-making with India, however,
according to the Stockholm International Peace is two-pronged. For one, America seeks to lessen
Research Institute (SIPRI). Obama-era weapons India’s dependence on Russia for weapons and
deals with India began with a 2.1 billion dollar defense capabilities. Second, the United States is
deal in March of 2009, which led to the sale of seeking an Asian partner with signifi cant military
eight Boeing P-81 maritime patrol aircraft to and economic weight to join America’s eff orts at
India. Most importantly, however, is that under containing and deterring China, which is rising
the Obama Administration, India became the only at a consistent and steady rate in both military
country without a formal defense treaty with the and economic sense. More than likely, a formal
United States to gain access to approximately defense treaty between the United States and India
99 percent of American defense technologies. sometime in the future would determine whether
India also became the second-largest purchaser of India has cast its lot with the United States amidst
weapons in the world, trailing only Saudi Arabia. increasing pressure on neutral countries to side with
As a result, the United States labeled India a either Washington or Beijing.
“Major Defense Partner,” which in turn removed A couple of years before Beca, the United
a number of American export controls. In turn, States and India signed a deal worth over 15
American weapons sales to India during the Obama billion dollars, which led to India’s purchase of
Administration jumped in value from almost zero 110 American jet fighters. However, Indian Prime

to approximately 14 billion US dollars. In 2020 Minister Narendra Modi has put the deal on hold
alone, the Trump Administration has authorized due to changing economic circumstances resulting
approximately 20 billion dollars in arms sales to from the coronavirus pandemic. Also, America’s
India, which goes to show how much the defense push to sell a number of armed drones to India was
relationship between the United States and India unsuccessful during Pompeo and Esper’s visit to
has escalated over the past decade. India a few days ago. In a basic sense, the focus
Just within the past few days, the United of the Indian government under Prime Minister
States and India signed a “Basic Exchange and Narendra Modi is to prioritize local development
Cooperation Agreement” (Beca), which is a and manufacturing within the Indian defense
landmark intelligence-sharing agreement that sector in the long run, despite the remarkable
will enhance Indian weapons, missiles, and drone rise of U.S.-Indian defense cooperation and deal-
systems. During a press conference right after making. Perhaps India is committed to mitigating
the signing of Beca alongside U.S. Secretary of its historic reliance on technologically advanced
State Mike Pompeo and U.S. Defense Secretary countries like Russia and the United States for the
Mark Esper, Indian Defense Minister Rajnath enhancement of its defense capabilities. Winding
Singh welcomed the prospects of even deeper down reliance on other countries will have to be
U.S. involvement in the Indian defense sector, by a long run project and cannot be accomplished
stating: “We aspire to go beyond the buyer-seller anytime soon. Nevertheless, the commitment
approach to getting in partnership with the U.S. towards making India’s defense sector truly
in defense and related industries.” However, the independent is real, and it will play out in the years
transition from a buyer-seller approach towards and decades to come.
a more leveled defense partnership between the
United States and India will depend largely on *Author is an Entrepreneur and Writer based
the latter’s commitment to a full-blown alliance in Virginia, United States

Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 8 • Issue 9 • November 2020, Noida • 53